Abstract
__A D__isintegrin __A__nd __M__etalloprotease (ADAM15) is a member of the adamalysin protein family and has been associated with cancer, possibly via its role in ectodomain shedding of cadherins. Alternative mRNA splicing generates several ADAM15 isoforms containing different combinations of putative Src homology‐3 (SH3) domain binding sites in their cytosolic tails. Here we present a comprehensive characterization of SH3 binding potential of different ADAM15 isoforms. Alternative use of ADAM15 exons was found to profoundly influence selection of SH3‐containing cellular partner proteins, including the avid interactions with nephrocystin and sorting nexin‐33 (SNX33 a.k.a. SNX30). Specifically, strong co‐precipitation of nephrocystin from cell lysates was specific to ADAM15 isoforms i4, i5, and i6. These isoforms contain one or both of the two almost identical proline‐rich regions encoded by exons 20 and 21, wherein the residues RxLPxxP were found to be indispensable for nephrocystin SH3 binding. Similarly, robust cellular association with SNX33 was observed only for ADAM15 isoforms containing the most carboxyterminal proline cluster lacking in isoforms i1 and i3. Thus, alternative mRNA splicing provides a versatile mechanism for regulation of intracellular protein interactions and thereby likely the cellular functions of ADAM15, which could explain the association with cancer of some but not all ADAM15 isoforms. J. Cell. Biochem. 108: 877–885, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.